The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-01-06
DeerIng Poin Eighty Years Ago.

David Winslow in 1906 purchased of
James Deering, one acre Of land at Deering
Point, for $1,000. This land Is now in the
possession Of his descendants On it were
several large old apple trees, one Of which
was near the stable occupied now by James
Winslow. At that time there was tradi-
tion that the Indians after killing Anthony
Braekett in 1859, and hung his body upon
this tree and split it from head to foot. II
was generally understood then, that these
were the apple trees that had been In the or
ehard Of Mr.. Bracket, Mr.. Willis and others
locate the orchard back Of the Deering Man
sion. 1t looks to me that theIIndians would
have been more likely to have landed on this
Point than to have gone up the creek Oppo-
site the present Deering Mansion, where, ON
their retreat they would have been exposed
70 the shots Of the whites on the neck. Mr..
Wlnslow immediately began the erection Of
three story house on the east side Of the
street, which house stands as firm today, as
when built This building was followed by
a barn and slaughter house, which stood not
far from the ruins OF the pottery Mr..
Winslow had sons, Daniel (who was after
ward State inspector Of beef, and still later,
carried on machine shop in Portland,) and
Moses and George, twins. They were all
engaged in slaughtering beef for packing.
AT that time large quantities were exported.
Davld's house used to be known as the Qua
ker tavern.
The next house built was one owned by a
Mr.. Townsend. In 1907 Deering bridge was
completed. 1t was Of sufficient width for the
passage OF two wagons over the channel.
There was an arch somewhat higher than
the rest OF the bridge, so as to permit Mr..
Deering's boats, loaded with mussels mud
to pass under. At this time road was Duilt
up to the old road which led over the pres
ent Grove street to Woodford's Corner. On
the finishing OF the bridge the traders In
Huckler's Row. used TO come over to the
Point, hail the countrymen, buy their load,
and send them along to their places of busi-
ness. After they had unloaded their loads
the traders would cry out against the quality
OF the produce, saying, we can never sell
such stuff as that, and the farmers must take
1t back. Rather than reload they would
make reduction. The traders would cheat
In measure and weight, palm off poor goods,
at exhorbitant prices and let their Victims
60. Soon the marketmen avoided them.
This locality in Portland from that circum-
stance was nicknamed Huekler's Row,
and the northern end Of Deering
bridge was known as Pirates Cove.
When Mr.. Huckler retired from the Point it
took the name of Christian Shore. The road
as now travelled to Woodfords was not laid
out for quite number Of years. For guess,
| should think it was laid out about 1920
The Ogoods House on Green street was the
only house until you came to Cumberland
street. The tide, so years ago, flowed up II
miles above the present bridge, and covered
an area of more than hundred acres. In
the charts Of 125 years since this extension
Of water above the bridge was noted, and
from inspection / should judge that small
crafts would have had no difficulty in sailing
up. There is some indication that the
Presumscot river, might have flowed into
Back Cove, in very early days from the
direction of Stroudwater. Such havebeen,the
encroachments on this tidal basin, that but
a very little salt water is found above the
bridge, and as the march Of Improvement
continues it will be entirely shut out. The
line of mean low water before and at the
FIRST settlement was as high as Grove street !;
now think 1t must be below Elm street.
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